Rotary internal-combustion engine



Oct. 8, 1946.

1.. MARGoLls ROTRY INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1944 fa loarTJ 62.

3 x Wenko@ Lows MAFeQL/S o@ 8,1946. L MARGOUS 2,409,141

ROTARY INTERNAL-COMBUS'ION ENGINE Filed Aug'. so, 1944 2 sheets-sneer 2 Syvum/bof 3 Lou/s MARGoL/s Patented Oct. 8, 1946 2,409,141 ROTARY INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE Louis Margolis, Washington, D. C., assignor of five per cent to Eugene Berger, Washington,

Application August 30,'1944, Serial No. 551,877

This invention relates to rotary internal combustion engines.

An object of this invention is to provide a rotary engine having a substantially toroidal cylinder and a plurality of spring-pressed sliding abutments carried by the casing.

vAnother object of this invention is to provide an engine of this type wherein air is compressed and discharged into a tank on a portion of the stroke of the rotor so that the compressed air may bereturned to the firing chambers at the proper time mixed with the desired fuel.

A further object of this invention is to provide an engine of this type embodying an improved valve construction which is actuated by the leading side of the rotor, and the leading side of the rotor is of cam shape so as to open the intake valve in properly timed relation.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved rotor which may be formed with a plurality of pistons so that a plurality of power strokes will be provided for each revolution. In the form disclosed the rotor is formed with four pistons and as there are two power positions for each piston, there will be eight power strokes for each revolution of the rotor.

With the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, modifications and variations may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary internal combustion engine constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and

' Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates generally a casing which is of cylindrical form having a cylindrical side wall I I and opposite heads I2 and I3 secured to the side wall II by fastening members |43. The heads I2 andl I3 are formed with passages I4 and I5, respectively, for receiving a cooling medium in the form of liquid and the side wall II is also provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart passages I6 through which the cooling medium is adapted to pass. A shaft I1 is 1 Claim. (Cl. 12S-14) journalled in bosses I8 and I3 carried by the heads I2 and I3, respectively, the shaft I1 being sealed with respect to the bosses. or bearings I8 and I9 by packing glands 2U and 2I respectively.

A bearing sleeve 22 is positioned within the boss I8 engaging about the shaft I1 and a second bearing sleeve 23 is positioned within the boss I3 and engages about the shaft I1 inwardly from the gland 2I.

A rotor generally designated as 24 is rotatably mounted within the casing I0 and includes a central hub 25 which is carried or otherwise rmly secured to the shaft I1, as indicated at 2B. The rotor 24 includes an outer cylindrical member 21 which rotatably engages in annular recesses 28 and 29 formed in'theinner sides of the heads I2 and I3, respectively. The heads I2 and I3 are provided on the opposed edges thereof with sealing rings 30 so as to seal the cylindrical member 21 within the recesses 28 and 29.

A pair of annular lubricating channels 3I and 32 are formed in the heads I2 and I3 in a position confronting the inner side of the cylindrical rotorl member 21 for providing proper lubrication for this member. The rotor 24 also includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart pistons 33 which are secured to or formed integral with the cylindrical member 21. The heads I2 and I3 and the cylindrical casing member II form a substantially toroidal cylinder 34.

In practice the cylinder 34 is of transversely elongated configuration with substantially semicircular cylinder portions 35 and 36 formed in the inner sides of the heads I2 and I3. A liner 31 is disposed on the inner side of the cylindrical casing member II and semi-cylindrical liners 38 and 39 are carried by the heads I2 and I3 in the cylinder portions 35 and 3G thereof. Each piston 33 has mounted therein a ring or sealing member 40 which is of split construction being ysemi-circular at the outer ends and extending straight across the cylindrical member II. Each piston 33 is formed at its trailing end with a concave surface 4I merging into the periphery of the cylindrical member 21 and is formed at its leading side or end with a convex surface 42. The concave rear surface 4I forms a moving abutment for engagement by the explosive gases when the rotor is in operation.

The casing I0 has secured thereto and projecting from the cylindrical member II a pair of housings 43 and 44. The housings 43 and 44 are of like construction and each includes a hollow housing member 45 formed with an inner ange 46 secured by fastening members 41 to the cylin- "Ine'm'ber I I.

drical member II. The cylindrical member is formed with an opening 48 communicating the cylinder 34 with the housing 43, and a sliding abutment 49 in the form of a iiat plate slidably engages through the opening 48.

The two heads I2 and I3 are formed with abutment guide passages 50 and 5|, respectively, and the abutment 49` is slightly wider' thantheHiS- tance transversely across the cylinder 34. The abutment 49 is constantly urged inwardly by means of a pair of springs 52 and 53 which at their inner ends engage abouts`tuds-54 and-55, respectively, carried by thev outer edge lof the abutment 49. The springs 52-and`53 engage in openings 56 and 51 formed in the outer wall 58 of the hollow member 45 and a head 59 closes the outer end of the housing mem-ber`-45being se cured thereto by fastening members 59a.

The head 59 is also formed with inwardly projecting studs 50 and 6| about which the outer ends "of the 'springs 52 'and '53, 'respective1y,jen g'age. The convex lea'dingside42 of eachpiston 33 forms a cam by means of which the abutment "49 is 'moved outwardly'against' the tension ofthe :"springs '52 and' 53. 'Each housing member43' and V44is form'edwith' an'in'take port '62 communicat- 'ing'with'an'intake port63 formed'in' the cylin- "dricalmember 'I I. A tappet valve'64 which opens inwardly is adapted to normally engage aremovable'se'at member'c'arrie'd by 'the cylindrical 'The `Valve [member l64 includes4 a 'valve'stem 65 'having bifurcated'upper end 51,

"and 'one arm '63 of'a'blllcrank'EB slidably'en- 'ga'ges'in' the' 's'lot 'formed'by'bifurcating the outer I 'end ofthe stem '66.

A p'in "I0 is extended acrossthebifurcated por- 'tion'l'of 'the stem'ES Aandloo'sely engages in an "elongated slot `|I which 'is formed' in the' bell 'crank'arm 68. The bell crank '69l is'rockablyL mounted on a' pin 72 carried' by the housing meml'ber '43, and the' opposite arm'fl3of the bellcrank has secured thereto a valve operating pin"|4. 'The inn'erend 'l5 of the pin' T4 projeots'intothe' cylthe fuel will be sprayed into and mixed with the incoming air, the latter being under predetermined pressure. A combustion chamber 9| is formed adjacent each intake port 63 and an igniter 92 in the form of a spark plug is positioned in each combustion chamber 9| for igniting the .combustiblegfuel in properlytimed relation. The airintakeport=.`62 hasiconn'ected' to thefouter end thereof an air conducting pipe 93, the latter being connected at the opposite end thereof to an air pressure tank 94. Air is discharged into the air-.pressure tank-94 at each revolution of the rotor 24 and in order to provide for the desired quantity orair being discharged into the tank 94, I have provided a pair of air intake housings 95 and 96 which are circumferentially spaced fren-'reachl otheriand from the abutment housings 431and 44. The air intake housings 95 and 96 are of like construction and each housing is provided with an air intake port 91 communicating through a port 98 formed in the cylindrical member I|.

A sliding abutment 99 is correlated with each housing95 and 96 'being spring-pressed to an inn'erposition' by means of one or more springs |99. The springs |00 at' their outer ends bear against an outer'head |0| secured by fastening "members |02 tothe housing 95.

inder 34"through an'op'ening 'I6 formedV inthe cyundricarmember I and the pinv is is'forme'd with an4 annular `rib or 'shoulder il engaging "against a shoulder 'I8' formed in theV cylindrical "member I I. The' arm' `|3"is coupledlto the pin 14 by'me'ans of a"'pin 'adjusting member' I9 which is threaded'through the' 'arm'13 and isfo'rmed at its inner `end witha'b'all A8|! engaging'in' a` ball socket 8| formed'in'theouter end of the'pin'14. A yspring B2 engages at`its innerjendab'out' the 'adjusting member 19,' and'atits' 'outer 'end-V eni'gages about a stud93 'carried'by' the'head 59. Thevalve 'operating pin '14' is .disposed 'on the 'trailing side of the 'abutment' 49'and is' adapted to be moved outwardly to' shift valve B4 to open position after abutment/Sis moved inwardly .by Ythe springs 52 and 53 across the 'cylinder"34.

The casing |0 is formed with a` pair of exhaust 'ports 84 and 85. correlated with the housings-'43 and 44 and disposed forwardly thereof so 'that burnedv gases will 'be'exhausted from the cylinder j 34 before unexploded gases enter the cylinder. An exhaust pipe 86 is secured to the casing m'emvvber I I communicating with the'port 84 'and a second exhaust pipe'il'l. issecuredto the cylindrical member II and communic'ateswith exhaust port '85.

The housing member "43 :is formed'with 'a j'fuel injecting port'fterminating inajetopening 89 communicating with the 'intakeport 92. Afuel vlinefill is connected tothedu'ct 'orpassage 88 for discharging fuel into 'the Yintake port Y62 'where The casing 'I I is provided with a pair` of..air "exhaust ports'y |03 andA |04, port |03 being correlated with'housing '95 and port |04 being correlated with housing 96. An outwardly opening check valve"||l5 is mounted in an air pipe |06 'which is connected to'port |03 andan outwardly Opening check valve |01 in an air pipe |08 is correlated with air exhaust port I 04. The two pipes "|06 and |08 are adapted. to be connected .to the pressu`re"tank"94`by 'meansof a, common pipe or manifold |09.

"In the use and operation of .this engine, the casing' Illmay bemounted on a suitable baser with the shaft' I'l in a horizontal position. Upon initial rotation or starting of the rotor 24 one piston 33 will initially move `valve operating pin I4 outwardly and the latter willmove valve 64. inwardly soas to permit fair. under pressure which "'w'ill be mixed with fuel discharged from jet 89 A to enter 'the cylinder'34. .Assuming thatthe valve 64 of housing'44 is initially moved to open position Ywhen the cam member .or convex forward portion v42 of piston 33 passes pin 14, the abut- '.ment49. correlated with( housing 44 `and which 'has at this time been. moved toan. outermost position will beforcedinwardly along-the convex trailing side 4| of a piston. f

Preferably, the inner edge of the. abutment 49 is rounded as at IIO so as to provide a seal be- 'tween abutment 49 and piston 33l as abutment 49 'moves inwardly. lWhen pistonv 33 passes valve openingpin "I4, igniter 92 will be ignitedrunder suitable timing means so as toignite the combined air and vaporized fuel. The expansion of 'the'burned gases willv then force piston 33 from abutment 49 correlatedwith housing 44, and as thispis'ton movescloc'kwise'toward housing 43, abutment49correlad"with'housing 43 will be "moved'oiitwa'rdly' 'andv when 'the' 'trailing end oi* the piston' passes exhaust portion185 the` burned gases at the'rearof the piston' Willibe'discharged `through exhaust'ports '85. and exhaust pipe 81.

'.Th'e'same'cycle will be obtained by abutment `'49"and pin'14 correlated with housing 43.'. In`the present instance, the twofhousings 43 'and'V .'44 whichfcomprisethe'fuel intake' means'are circumferentially 'spaced apart"a` relatively "sh'o'i't distance, whereas the air pressure housings 95 and 96 are spaced from each other and from the housings 43 and 44 a substantial distance. In other words, housing 95 is slightly less than diametrically opposite housing 44 and the same is true of housings 43 and 96.

Housings 43 and 44 being less than 45 apart, and rotor 24 having four pistons, rotor 24 will be under a continuous power impulse, the combustion chamber 9| associated with housing 43 providing the rst or leading impulse. Combustion chamber 9| associated with housing 43 will provide another power impulse before the gases have fully expanded under the rst impulse, so that in effect there will be two power impulses which are continuously acting to rotate rotor 24.

What I claim is:

A rotary interna1 combustion engine comprising a substantially toroidal cylinder, a rotor including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart pistons movable in said cylinder, a, housing extending radially from and secured to said cylinder, an abutment slidably carried by said housing and normally biased to a position across said cylinder, each piston including a camshaped leading portion engageable with said abutment for moving the latter outwardly into said housing, a fuel intake valve carried by said housing, and means connected to said valve and projecting into said cylinder in a position for engagement with said cam-shaped leading portion for moving said valve to open position, said latter means including a bell crank pivotally carried by said housing and having an elongated slot in one arm thereof, a pin carried by said valve loosely engaging in said slot, a second pin slidable through said cylinder, and means rockably connecting said second pin to the other arm of said bell crank.

LOUIS MARGOLIS. 

